Pre-trip thoughts

It's November 14, 2010, only 14 months until we depart on our trip of a lifetime!  I've been inspired to create this blog by reading the words of another family of 4 who are currently on a world trip.  Excitement is starting to set in since I know how fast a year can go by!!!!
Although I don't want our trip to be micro-planned I do want to have a vague idea of where we will be and when and I do want to research the places we plan to visit in order to get the most out of our holiday.  My plan is to speak to everyone we know that have done any travelling to the places we plan to visit.  This will take time.....hopefully just over a year is long enough!  Originally this trip was going to consist of being tourists 80% of the time and plan a couple missions endeavors along the way.  We have since had a change of heart and feel that we will get more satisfaction by doing missions work any chance we get.  This will mean connecting with organizations already established to find out what we, as a family, can contribute to the need of the country/village we will be visiting.  Again, more research to do but will be worth it!!!
Another idea is to do an act of kindness every day!!!  This should help get us through those days when things don't go as planned.  If we can leave the world a littler better than we found it then our mission will be accomplished.  We want to make a difference, we want to meet people that we can help in some way even in a small way.  We want the environment to benefit from our family's presence even if that means picking up garbage, that is what we will do.  We want to help children in any way we can, teach english, draw with them (Tianna), play guitar for them (Landon), hold and love them (me), give them a workout :-) (JC).  We will each take away something different from this experience, mostly good, some bad and we will undoubtedly grow beyond measure!!!
It is my hope and dream that a year away from all of our life's comforts will shape and mold us into a person, a family, who truly knows what it is like to sacrifice, to feel challenged and rise above any hardships we encounter.  In some ways a year is a long time, yet in another way it can go by so quickly and we will be home before we know it but not before we enjoy experiences that will be with us for the rest of our life!!  2012.....bring it on......we'll be ready!!!